4 Sure Signs it’s Time for a New Garage Door Opener

It’s one of those amazing devices that we rely on constantly, but pay very little attention to. Your garage door opener opens and closes the door an average of 1,500 times a year. In rain and snow, sun and sleet, you push a button and – poof – your garage door opens so you don’t have to get wet or cold to drive right into the garage.

That trouble-free performance is the reason you generally don’t usually give a thought to your opener. It’s also the reason why, one stormy night, you might be stuck outside your garage with an opener that suddenly stops working. Or you, even if the opener never breaks down, you might be compromising the security of your family and home by continuing to use an older model.

Here are just some of the signs that it might be time for a new garage door opener.

1. It’s Decades Old

In 1993, new regulations were introduced for garage door opener safety features, including the requirement that the opener automatically reverses if anything is in the door’s path or if the door hits anything while closing. If your garage door is more than 20 years old, you might be putting the safety of your family at risk.

2. It’s Louder than You Think

Ongoing reliable performance can make you ‘deaf’ to an obvious sign that it’s time for a new opener. It’s louder than you think. Not as much attention was paid to quiet operation when older openers were designed and manufactured. Have a listen the next time you use the opener. If it’s unreasonably loud, replace it.

3. It Doesn’t Protect Your Home

The garage is a favourite way for burglars to get into your home. Even if your older opener has a security code, there’s a good chance it’s fixed, which makes it easy for thieves to crack. Newer openers have rolling codes that change every time you use the remote, so no one can know the next code to open the door.

4. It Doesn’t Have Back-Up Power

Ever tried to get into or out of your garage during a power outage? If you have an older opener, you were probably stuck, at least until you fumbled around in the dark to find the manual override. Newer openers have battery back-ups that keep the opener working even when the electricity isn’t.

So when is it time for a new garage door opener? When the benefits of increased safety, security and peace of mind far outweigh the cost.